Thai PM leaves for South Korea, Hong Kong

SEOUL, Feb 24 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrived in Seoul early Sunday for a two-day official visit and talks with first female president Park Geun Hye, aimed at strengthening relations between South Korea and Thailand. Miss Yingluck told the press that the two countries have enjoyed warm relations for more than 55 years and she would congratulate Miss Park for being elected as first female president of South Korea, similar to her for being elected as first female prime minister of Thailand. Miss Park, 61, will take office on Monday, succeeding President Lee Myung-bak. Talks between the two leaders will focus on ways to increase bilateral trade value to over 30 billion U.S. dollars in the next five years, said Miss Yingluck, adding that she would take an opportunity to invite Miss Park to visit Thailand and attend the Asia-Pacific Water Summit, to be hosted by Thailand this May. Miss Yingluck is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on outgoing President Lee Sunday afternoon and attend a farewell party. She will attend a dinner party to be hosted by South Korea’s parliament president. The prime minister will then travel to Hong Kong and pay a two-day visit, starting Monday, and hold talks with investors, aimed at assuring them that her government is now well prepared to welcome foreign businessmen after the kingdom was hit by massive flood in late 2011. She is expected to invite investors there to invest on the Thai government-sponsored mega projects worth about two trillion baht.